The Woodlands have an extensive pastoral mentor team who support the pupils and families.
The Woodlands has and maintains close links with External Partnerships. In order to access the best professional advice, we also link with Local Authority and Private Providers of additional services, such as Occupational Therapy, CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) School Nursing Service, Social Services and Medical Professionals. We often hold multi-professional meetings in school so that parents are comfortable in the school environment and the child can join us easily if it is appropriate.
As a school we have a very positive approach to all types of behaviour with a positive reward system that follows a restorative approach to behaviour management. The children are rewarded for positive behaviour.
There are a range of therapeutic interventions available to pupils. Please note, this is a list of interventions offered across all Woodlands sites, they may not be available in all bases. Please contact specific bases for further information.
Archery – Focus and improved patience, improves social, emotional, and mental health, improved self-confidence and accomplishment, relaxed body and mind, improved sight performance (hand-eye coordination), builds upper body strength.
Autism and Social Communication Team – Support children, young people, school staff and families to understand how the autism or social communication needs impact on a child or young person’s presentation in school. They are highly skilled in developing and advising on supports and strategies that can minimise the difficulties experienced and maximise progress.
Build to Express – Using Lego this encourages more effective expression, develop language and communication skills, and stimulate student creativity in a comfortable and motivating environment. On a one to one or in small groups children can explore and find solutions to personal issues.
Bushcraft/Forest Schools – Bushcraft increases the connection between children and nature; nurturing greater respect for the natural world upon which we all depend. Being outdoors and connected to nature increases children’s levels of physical activity, it has also been shown to increase children’s personal and social skills.
Cognition and Learning Team – Schools refer directly to the team for assessment and support for interventions for individual pupils. support, including training and school development across several areas such as: Specific Learning Difficulties; General Learning Difficulties; Maths Difficulties; Down Syndrome; Foundation Stage Concerns; Sensory Processing Differences; Assistive Technology and IT; Physical Difficulties; Fine Motor, Gross Motor and Handwriting Difficulties.
Confidence Coaching – Work to increase self-confidence, positive self-talk and an understanding of what makes them special. Pupil will have a deeper understanding of who they are, how they feel and how to manage those big, all-important feelings. They will be clearer on how to achieve their goals, manage their failures and stay confident when challenges come their way.
Draw and Talk therapy – Drawing and Talking Therapy Training is an experiential rather than theory-based training programme designed for anyone working with children, young people or adults who may be suffering from trauma or poor mental health.
Educational Psychologist –The service they provide is designed to promote the best possible outcomes in terms of learning, social and emotional development, wellbeing, and their inclusion within their community. To do this the staff can work directly with children and young people, offer advice and consultation, training and development for professionals and information and guidance to parents.
ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) – ELSA is an initiative developed and supported by educational psychologists where a trained teaching assistant develops and delivers either an individualised or group support programme to meet the emotional needs of children.
Emotional Wellbeing and Effective Learning – The purpose of the service to improve the wellbeing, achievement and resilience of children and young people; and to support schools to develop their capacity to meet the needs of more vulnerable learners.
Future Steps– Assist educators to ensure that they have the strategies and environments needed in order to support classroom management and the development of children with Attachment Difficulties, ADHD, SPD, Autism, Behavioural Difficulties, academic performance and many other needs.
Hamish and Milo interventions – A comprehensive wellbeing and nurture programme for small intervention groups to help primary-aged children to be happier, heard and connected.
Lego Therapy – Play therapy groups to focus on building peer interaction and social skills.
Let’s Cool Down-1:1- Tasks incorporating relaxation techniques, calming down tasks and learning strategies to calm down, building up a toolbox of strategies.
LINC (Learning in a Nurture Classroom) – An intervention based on Nurture Group principles, delivered by trained Nurture staff. Aims to address social and emotional needs that are a barrier to a young person’s learning and development.
Outdoor Education / Wilderness – Wilderness Schooling is an innovative and evidence-based approach to raising attainment by using the outdoor world to bring Maths, Science and English alive.
Relax Kids– To help raise self-esteem and confidence, promote self-image, learn basic relaxation and develop emotional awareness of others.
School Counsellor – Staff can refer pupils to the counsellor either as a result of individual assessments/information from referring schools or when needs arise.
Starving the Anger Gremlin – shows young people how to starve their anger gremlin and control their anger effectively. Made up of engaging and fun activities, it helps them to understand why they get angry and how their anger affects themselves and others and teaches them how to manage angry thoughts and behaviours.
Starving the Anxiety Gremlin – helps young people understand different types of anxiety and how to manage them, including panic attacks, phobias, social anxiety, generalised anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Based on cognitive behavioural principles that link thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Thrive Approach – To help children to become more emotionally resilient so that they are better equipped to deal with life’s ups and downs. Read how we have made a difference.
Zones of Regulation – The Zones of Regulation framework and curriculum teaches students scaffolded skills toward developing a metacognitive pathway to build awareness of their feelings/internal state and utilize a variety of tools and strategies for regulation, prosocial skills, self-care, and overall wellness.